Key facts
- The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed new charges against 17 individuals linked to Iran's Mabna Institute.
- The individuals are accused of conducting a state-sponsored cyber campaign to steal data from U.S. organizations.
- The alleged targets included 144 U.S. universities, 42 private sector firms, and five U.S. government agencies.
- The campaign, active from at least 2013 to 2017, allegedly stole over 31 terabytes of data worth approximately $3.4 billion.
- The U.S. State Department is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the location of five of the accused hackers.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced it has unsealed new charges against 17 individuals linked to Iran's Mabna Institute, accusing them of conducting a years-long, state-sponsored campaign of cyber attacks. The alleged operation, spanning from at least 2013 to December 2017, targeted the computer systems of 144 American universities and 42 private sector firms, as well as five U.S. federal and state government agencies. The group is accused of stealing over 31 terabytes of academic data and intellectual property valued at approximately $3.4 billion. Many of the attacks were conducted on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other Iranian government clients. The DOJ stated that the Mabna Institute's activities began around 2013 with the aim of stealing access to non-Iranian scientific resources. Nine of the 17 individuals charged were previously indicted in March 2018. The U.S. State Department is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the location of five of the alleged hackers-for-hire.